Machine for treating or breaking and scutching hemp or other fibrous



W. A. SHELY. MACHINE FOR TREATING 0R BREAKlNG AND sCuTcHlNG HEMP 0R OTHER FIBROU S MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I, I9IB. REIIEWED AUG. I6. |919.

Patented June 8, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESS' INV/figli A TTUAN/f I' W. A. SHELY. MACHINE FOB TREATING 0R BREAKING AND SCUTCHING HEMP 0R OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL. APPLICATION rlLED JULY 1, 1918. RENEwED AUG. 1'6, 1919.

1,342,771. Wammes, 1920,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. A. SHELY. MACHiNE FOR TREATiNG 0R BREAKING AND SCUTCHING HEMP 0R OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL. APPLICATION 11150 1uLY1, 1918. RENEwED 1116.16.1919.

1 ,342,77 1 Patented June 8, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/N VEN TUR W. A. SHELY.

MACHINE FOR TREATING 0R BREAKING AND SCUTCHING HEIVIP 0R OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY I, ISIS- RENEWED AUG. I5. I9I9. 1,342,771. PatentedJune 8,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LVII

' VV'NTOR. Mm @if HY j ,f7 M7 ATTOINFY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. SIIELY, OF CPICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR TREATING OR BREAKING- ALTD SCUTCHING KEMP 0R OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL.

Lerenti.

Application filed July 1, 1918, Seral'No. 242,888.

To all ifi/ioni t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IV'rLLiAir A. SHELY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Treating or Breaking and Scutching I'Iemp or other Fibrous Material.

This invention relates to that class of machines for breaking and sciitching or treating hemp or other fibrous material, having a break-bar or a plurality of breakbars adapted to engage hemp or fibrous material to be operated upon, and provided with beater mechanism adapted to operate upon and break and scutcli or treat and clean hemp or fibrous material fed into position to be engaged by such break-bars, or fibersupporting element and beater mechanism.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient machine for breaking and sciitching or treating and cleaning hemp or other fibrous material. One of the purposes of the invention is to provide such a machine with beater mechanism adapted to enable the material operated upon to be struck with the desired degree of force and by means of beater-bars or beater members moving` in the desired direction with respect to the fibrous material, and to enable the beaterbars, blades or beater members by means of which the scutching or cleaning of the fibrous material is accomplished, or by means of which the breaking and sciitching of such material is accomplished, to engage and move lengthwise of and in engagement with the fibrous material in such a manner as to scutcli and clean or remove the hurds or shives from the fibrous material without unduly breaking or injuring the fibers, and with facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for breakingI and scutching hemp or similar fibrous material, with beateimeclianism comprising beaterbars or beater-blades adapted to extend transversely with respect to fibrous material or hemp stalks to be operated upon and to engage or strike such material while the beater bars are moving in the desired direction with respect to the stalks or fibrous material to cause the shives or hurds to be broken and loosened from the outer fibers in an efficient manner, and, by a continuous Specification of Letters Patent.

Renewed August 16, 1919. Serial No. 318,014.

and uninterrupted movement of the beaterbars'substantially longitudinally of and in frictional engagement with the fili fibrous material for the desired distance lengthwise of the stalks or fibers, and, bv preference, with beater-bars simultaneously or in rapid alternation, in scutching engagen'ient with the stalks or fibers on opposite sides of the same, so as to flex the fibers to the desired extent without injury thereto and thoroughly scutch and clean the saine.

'Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the followingr description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying' drawings, which are made a part hereof. l

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and construction and arrangement of parts and cooperating elemeiits herein described and claimed. Y

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation, of a machine constructed in accordance with mv invention;

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same, with a front portion of the feed table broken away, and with other parts of the machine broken away at the central portion of the machine, the transverse parts which are shown broken, being of much greater length than that shown in said figure, in proportion to the length of the machine from front to rear;

Fig. 3, is a View in central longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 3 of Fig. looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 1f is a view in transverse vertical section, taken on line 4 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow; i

In constructing a machine for breaking and' sciitching or treating hemp. or other fibrous material, in accordance with my invention I provide a main frame which may be of any desired suitable form, and. when constructed as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises main longitudinal side frame members l, 2. transverse frame niembers 3, upright side-frame members 4, 5, 6 and 7, on one side of the machine, and corresponding upright side-frame members 8, 9, 10 and 1l on the opposite side, the sideframe members 4 and 8 being directly opposite each other, the side-frame members 5 and 9 being directly opposite each other,

frame-members 6 and 10 being directly opposite each other and back of the members 5 and 9, and the members 7 and 11 being directly opposite each other at the rear portion of the main frame, all of said frame members being rigidly secured together and made of suitable material, such as metal or wood-preferably metal-and forming a strong and rio'id frame capable of supporting the momile parts of the machine and of withstanding the shocks and strains to which the machine is subjected when in operation.

Mounted at or near the forward extremity of the machine is a pair of parallel breakbars 12 and 13 which are in superposed relation and extend transversely and, by preference, horizontally across the machine, said break-bars being spaced apart, so as to provide a space 141 therebetween adapted to permit hemp stalks or stalks of fibrous material to be operated upon to be fed into position to extend between and in engagement with the bottom fiber engaging or stalk-breaking margin or edge 15 of the upper break-bar 12, and the upper fiber-engaging or stalk-breaking edge 16 of the lower break-bar 13. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) The break-bars 12 and 13 are supported at their opposite ends by suitable supporting means, such, for instance, as the upright side frame members 4 and 8, to which the corresponding ends of said break-bars are secured in any desired ordinary or suitable manner,'but, by preference in such a manner as to permit the break bars to be adjusted with respect to each other, as well as upward and downward and forward and backward, each independently, to any desired adjusted position upon the machine frame. This may be accomplished in a simple and efficient manner by mounting each end of each of the break-bars 12 and 13, upon and in horizontally adjustable relation to a vertically adjustable supporting member 17, the vertically adjustable break-bar supporting members 17 each being secured to and in vertically adjustable relation to a suitable stationary support, such, for instance, as the adjacent upright side frame member l or 8, or similar suitable support. The vertically adjustable supporting members 17 are each provided with one or more vertically elongated slots 18 through which eX- tend horizontal screws or bolts 19 which are anchored in the adjacent stationary supporting frame member, such as the adjacent frame member t or S on the corresponding side of the machine. lCach of said breakbars is provided with an angular end portion 20 extending forward with respect to the main body of the bar and in adjustable or slidable engagement with the adjacent corresponding break-bar-supporting member 17, and has a plurality of horizontally elongated slots disposed longitudinally of the machine frame and in superposed relation to each other in each of said angular end portions 20. And each of said slots 21 has a securing screw or bolt 22 extending horizontally therethrough, each of said bolts or screws being anchored in the corresponding adjacent vertically adjustable bar-supporting member 17. By providing each of the vertically adjustable bar-supporting members 17 with suitable teeth or serrations, or shoulders in superposed relation to each other, and poviding a tooth-engaging shoulder or teeth 241 upon an adjacent stationary part, such, for instance, as the stationary supporting member upon which such vertically adjustable member 17 is mounted, the members 17 may be rigidly secured in any desired adjusted position, so as to form a strong and rigid support for the break bars in any desired position to which the latter are adapted to be moved or adjusted. (See Fig, 1.)

Mounted forward of the break-bars 12 and 13 is a pair of initial feeding rollers 25, 26 which are arranged in horizontal position and in superposed parallel relation to each other and transversely with respect to Athe machine frame, the bottom of th'e upper roller 12 being, by preference, normally below the level of the bottom fiber engaging or stalk-breaking edge or margin 15 or lower rear edge of the upper break-bar 12, and high as is necessary to permit stalks of fibrous material to be fed between said rollers and between and in position to be engaged and broken by or against the stalkbreaking margins or edges 15 and 16 of said break-bars, with the stalks, by preference, in approximately horizontal position or in perpendicular relation to an imaginary line drawn from the stalk-breaking margin 15 to the stalk-breaking margin or edge 1G of the break-bars, between which the stalks are to be fed transversely with respect to the break bars.

The feeding rollers 25, 2G are, by preference, made of -flexible material, such as rubber, or a composition containing flexible material, or of resilient 'material such as spring metal, the body portions of said rollers being mounted upon suitable axles 27, 28 which are journaled in suitable bearings in the main frame.

The axle of the bottom roller 2G is shown mounted in suitable bearings in the form of bearing blocks 29, one of said blocks being mounted in a vertical slot 30 in the side frame member et, and the other of said blocks being mounted in the bottom of a similar vertically elongated slot 31 in the opposite side frame member 8. The axle of the upper feed roller 25 is ournaled in vertically slidable bearing block 32, located directly over the corresponding bearing blocks 29,

one of the bearing'blocks 32 being slidably mounted in the slot 30 in the upright frame member 4 and the other in the slot 3l in the upright frame member 3. Each of the bearing blocks is provided with a compression spring 33 interposed between such bearing block and a washer 34, and with a pressure-regulating screw .35 in operative engagement with the washer and in threaded engagement with a plate or frame member 35, for regulating the tension of the corresponding spring. The bearing blocks 32 are thus yieldingly supported in position, so as to permit the upper feeding roller 25 to be pressed upward against the tension of the springs by stalks of fibrous material as the latter are fed endwise between and transversely with respect to the rollers and between the break-bars. The rollers 25 and 26 are provided with spur gears 36, 37, the gear 36 being in fixed relation to the upper roller and the gear 37 being` fixed to the axle of the lower roller 26. These gears have elongated teeth adapted to permit the rollers to be spread apart to the desired extent by stalks of fibrous material passing between the rollers in layers which vary more or less in thickness. The lower feed roller is connected with a suitable source of power by means of a sprocket wheel 38 fixed to the shaft or axle 23 of said roller, a sprocket wheel or gear 39 fixed to a main driving shaft 40 which extends transversely of and is journaled in suitable bearings 4l in the main frame, and a sprocket chain or equivalent element 42 in engagement withl the toothed sprocket wheels 38 and 39, and forming a connection between the same. The main driving shaft 40 is provided with a driving wheel or belt pulley 43 by means of which it is connected with a suitable source of power, such as an engine or motor,-not shown. A feed table 44 is mounted in position to support stalks of hemp or fibrous material in a suitable manner to permit the stalks to be fed between the feed rollers 25 and 26 and between the break-bars l2 and 13, or into position to extend transversely across the break-bar mechanism.

The upper feed-roller 25 is provided with a flexible scraper 46 interposed between said roller and the adjacent break-bar l2; and the lower feed-roller 26 is provided with a similarl scraper 47, arranged in relatively inverted position directly beneath the scraper 46 and between the lower roller 26 and the lower break-bar 13. These scrapers are supported at their opposite ends by suitable means adapted to permit the Scrapers to be held in yielding frictional engagement with the rollers, and to permit the upper scraper to move with the upper roller 25 as the latter raised or lowered with respect to the low r roller. This may be accomplished in the manner shown in the drawings, by providing bell cranks 48 which are fixed to the opposite ends of the upper' scraper 46, and pivotally supported by means of pivots 49, 49 which are anchored in suitable stationary supports, such, for instance, as the frame meinbe 's 4 and 3, respectively. Springs 50 attached to the free ends of the bell cranks 46, and with one end attached to a stationary part of the frame, serve to yieldingly hold the scraper 46 in yielding engagement with the roller 25. The scraper 47, which engages the lower roller 26 is provided with similar bell cranks 5l attached to its opposite ends and each pivotally supported by means of a pivot 52 anchored in an adjacent stationary part of the main frame, and each bell crank 5l is provided with a spring 53 connected therewith and with the stationary main frame.

rThe scrapers above described serve to prevent the fibrous material from wrapping around the feed rollers.

Mounted directly back of and in substantially parallel relation to the lower breakbar 13 in position to co-act with the upper break-bar l2 and break and loosen shives or hurds of stalks extending transversely across and beneath the stalk-breaking edge l5 of said upper break-bar, is a set or series of pivoted non-invertible beater-bars 54 each of which is pivotally connected at one end with a disk-shaped rotator or wheel 55, and at its opposite end, with a somewhat similar disk-shaped rotator or wheel 56, said beaterbar supporting wheels or disks being located near the opposite extremities of the breaksbars and rotatively supported by means of parallel shafts or axles 57 and 5S, respectively, in position to enable the beaterbars above mentioned to be operated in such a manner that each of the beater bars is caused to travel in circuit or path oblique to itself, all of said beater-bars being constantly in parallel relation to each other and in substantially parallel relation to the break bar l2, and the supporting` shafts 57 and 58 being in parallel relation to each other but in oblique relation to the beater bars 54 and also in oblique relation to the parallel pivoted non-invertible beater-bars operated by said shafts. These pivoted non-invertible beater-bars 54 are each pivotally connected with the rotator or beater-bar supporting wheel 55 by means of a pivot 59 fixed to or integral with the beater-bar. The axes of these pivots are parallel to the shaft 57 and perpendicular to the face of the disk or beater-bar supporting wheel The fa said beater-bar supporting wheel in gagement with which the pivoted ends of the beater bars are mounted` is in perpendicular or right-angular relation to the axis of the shaft 57, and in parallel relation to the beater-bar-engaging face of the beater-bar supporting wheel 5G, with which the opposite ends of each of said beater-bars is connected b y means of a pivot pin 60 which is fixed to or formed integral with the beaterbar supported thereby. The pivots G are securely held in place in their bearings in the wheel G by means of suitable retaining nuts or collars G1 fixed to the ends of said pivots on the opposite side of the wheel from that engaged by the pivoted ends of the beaterbars; and the pivots 59 at the opposite ends ot the beater-bars are securely held in place in their bearings in the wheel or disk 55 by retaining collars or nuts 62 which may be oi the same form as the retaining collars 6l. T he retaining plates or collars 6l and G2, are, by preference, so constructed as to en able the pivots to be provided with suitable ball bearings, comprising anti'liriction balls arranged in position to encircle the pivots and ailord suitable bearings for the same. The ball bearings or antifriction bearings may be ot any desired ordinary and well known form suitable for the purpose indicated,a and it is therefore not deemed necessary or desirable to describe the same in greater detail.

The beater-bars are, by preference, each so constructed as to comprise two relatively movable beater-bar members, namely, the main body portion to the opposite end portions (ll et which. the pivots are attached, ilior pivotally crmneeting said main body portions or beater-bars proper with the beater-bar supporting wheels, and a shoe or fiber-engaging outer bar member 65 which is mounted upon and in longitudinally movable relation to such main body portion. These shoe members (35 are by preference of angular construction, or in the form of an inverted U in cross-section, with the upper margin flattened so as to provide a liber-engaging striking edge or margin 66 adapted to extend tranversely across stalks of fibrous material which extend transversely across and beneath the bottom liber-engaging edge of the upper break-bar 12, in position to be broken and scutched while being fed lengthwise oit the stalks between said breakbar and the stalk-engaging beater-bars. (See Fig. 3.)

Suitable means is provided for securely holding the shoe-members 65 upon and in longitudinally slidable relation to the main body portions or beater-bar members 54. This is accomplished in a simple and eiiicient manner by mounting transverse retaining pins 67 near the opposite ends of each main beater-bar member 54;, in position to form bosses which project outward laterally on opposite sides of such beater bar member and into longitudinally elongated slots 68 in the corresponding beater-bar shoe member G5. Flach oi" these pivoted beater bars is provided with a tension spring 69, one end of which is attached to the end of the shoe and the other end of which is the corresponding adjacent enlarged end portion Set of the main body member or beater-bar proper; and a compression spring 7'0 is provided for each beater bar, one end of such compression spring beine` attached to the end of the shoe member and the other end of the spring being attached to the adjacent enlarged end portion (El at the opposite extremity et the beater bar from that to which the tension spring G9 is attached. rllhe spring mechanism above described is thus adapted to tend to press the shoes with which the springs are connected longitudinally with respect to the corresponding main body portions on which the shoe members are slidably supported, and in the direction et movement of the beater bars during that part of their movement in which the beater-bar shoe members are in engagement with the fibrous material to be operated upon.

In order to provide means for retarding and interrupting the longitudinal movement ot the shoes 65 during that part oif their stroke and in that part of their circuit in which they are in contact or stalk-breaking engagement with the stalks of ibrous material to be operated upon, each of the shoes is provided with a projecting stud, boss or shoulder il attached to or formed in one integral piece with such shoe; and a detent or tripping member 'T2 is mounted in position to successively engage and retard and interrupt the movement of the bosses 7l and the beater-bar shoes to which they are attached, at the moment when such shoes are moving into and actually in breaking contact orengagement with the stalks of ibrous material between the ber-engaging edge ot the upper break bar and the fiber-engaging edges of such shoes successively in the order in which they are caused to pass said fiber-engaging edge of the breakbar in the act ot breaking and scutching the material to be operated upon. rThe detent 72 may be' attached to any suitable support, such7 for instance, as the lower breakbar 18, by means of bolts or screws 73 inserted through suitable apertures 74: in the detent 72, or by other similar or ordinary retaining means. By making the apertures 74: slightly larger than the screws '73, the detent or tripping member may be readily adjusted to and securely held in position to engage and trip the bosses Tl at the desired point in their travel, and to release them at the desired instant. The detent is thus adapted to interrupt the movement o't the shoes G5 longitudinally with respect to the break-bar on which it is mounted. A compressible or flexible cushioning element, which may be in the form of a resilient rubber cylinder or bar 7 5 mounted in a member attached to lll() socket or aperture in the detent 72 and adapted to form a shock absorbing element for yieldingly engaging and retarding the movement of the bosses 7l as they move into contact with or into position to be retarded by such shock absorber '75 and detent 72, is provided and arranged in position to engage the bosses 7l so as to somewhat gradually retard or interrupt the longitudinal movement of the shoes at the moment when .they are moving into breaking engagement with the stalks, and permit the shoes to be released from engagement with the detent and permitted to move longitudinallyof the main body of the beater bars after being interrupted in such longitudinal movement while in engagement with the stalks and in the act of breaking and scutching the material. (See Figs. 2, 3 and 4.) The beater-bar shoe members may be provided with suitable anti-friction rollers or balls 76 interposed between the inner surfaces rof said shoes and the main body portions of the corresponding main body portions of the beater bars at suitable intervals, for reducing to a minimum the friction caused by thevmovement of the shoes longitudinally with respect to the beater-bar members upon which they are supported. These anti-friction members or bearings may be of any desired ordinary and well known form adapted to serve the purpose mentioned.

Mounted directly back of and in substantially parallel relation to the upper break-bar 12, and in parallel relation to and in position to co-act with the lower break-bar 13 and with the lower non-invertible beaterbars 54 above described, to break and sciitch stalks of hemp or other fibrous material fed into position to extend between said break bars or over the upper liber-engaging edge 16 of said lower break-bar 13, is an upper set or series of pivoted non-invertible beaterbars 77, each of which is pivotally connected at one end with a beater-bar supporting rotator or disk-shaped Wheel 78, and at the other end, with a disk-shaped beater-bar supporting rotator or wheel 79, said wheel 78 being fixed to a rotative shaft 80, and said wheel 79 being fixed to the end of a rotative shaft or aXle 81, said shafts 8O and 81 being in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the beater-bars 77 and break-bar 13. The shaft 8O is in the same vertical plane or in a parallel vertical plane with shaft 58 already described, and the shaft 81 is likewise, by preference, directly over and in the same vert-ical plane but at an angle with respect to the shaft 57 already described,-the beater bars 77 and 54 being' normally horizontal and in parallel relation toeach other. The main body portion of each beater-bar 77 is provided at one end with ,pivot 82 fixed thereto and mounted in a suitable bearing or aperture in the wheel 78, and at the other end, with a similar pivot 83 mounted in a suitable bearing in an aperture in the wheel 79, the pivots 82 having' their longitudinal centers parallel with the' axis of the shaft 80, and the pivots 83 having their axial centers parallel with the axis of the shaft 81. The shaft is rotatively mounted in a suitable bearing 84 upon or forming part of the main frame of the machine; and the shaft 81 is rotatively mounted in a similarly inclined bearing 85 on or forming part of the opposite side of the main frame. (See Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4.)

Mounted upon and in longitudinally slidable relation to each upper beater-bar member 77 is an outer shoe member 86 which is held in position upon and in longitudinally slidable relation to such beater-bar member 77 by means of laterally projecting retaining pins or bosses 87, which project into and in sliding engagement with thewalls of longitudinally elongated slots 88, which are adapted to permit the movement of the shoes longitudinally with respect to the main beaterbar members 77. Each of the upper beaterbars is provided at one end with a. tension spring 89 which is connected at one end with the shoe member 86 and at the opposite end of said spring with the enlarged end portion 87 of the main body portion of such beater bar; and the opposite end of each of said upper beater-bars is provided with a compression spring 90, one end of which is connected with said end of the beater-bar shoe 86, and the other end of which is connected with the enlarged adjacent end portion 91 of the main body portion of such upper beater-bar. Each upper beater bar shoe member 86 is provided with a laterally projecting boss or stud 92, which corresponds with the bosses 71 on the lower beater-bar shoe members already described, and is adapted to engage and to be released from engagement with a tripping' member or detent 93 which is secured in position on the upper break-bar 12, so as to trip and release the bosses 92 and thereby retard and interrupt the movement of the upper beater-bar shoe members 86 in the same manner in which the detent 72 retards. interrupts and releases the bosses 71 and the lower beaterbar shoe members 65 as already described.

rlhe detent is adjustably secured in position on the upper break bar by means of headed retaining screws 94 which are anchored in the break-bar 12 and extend through suitable elongated apertures 95 in the detent member 93, said apertures being of such shape and dimensions as to permit such adjustment of the detent with respect to the break bar on which it is mounted, to any desired adjusted position. A resilient shock-'absorbing member 96 is' provided,

which may be in the form of a rubber cylinder or bar mounted in a suitable socket or aperture in the detent member 98 in position to engage and gradually retard the movement of the shoes 8G as they come into contact with the li brous material to be operated upon, seas to permit the movement of the main body members or beater bar members 77 longitudinally with respect to the shoes while `the latter' are successively in breaking and sciitching engagement with the fibrous material, on the upper side of the layer of stalks or librous n'iaterial operated upon, and the lower beater-bar shoe members in engagement with the stalks or fibrous material on the lower side thereof.

The upper beater-bar mechanism, beaterbar shoe mechanism, detents, shock-absorbing mechanism, and rotators or beater-bar supporting and operating wheels are thus, in. all substantial respects, of practically the same construction and intended to and capable of operating in substantially the same manner as the lower beater-bar mechanism, shoe mechanism, shock-absorbing mechanism, and rotators of corresponding construction and arrangement, as already described. It is therefore deemed unnecessary and undesirable to further describe in detail the construction and mode of operation of the upper set 0f beater bars and their coacting mechanisms, further than to set forth briefly the means for connecting` the upper and lower beater-bar mechanisms and rotators, and the means for driving the same, and to briefly complete the statement ofthe mode of operation of the machine, including said elements.

The upper beater bars 77 are securely held in pivotal relation to the rotators or beaterbar supporting wheels 78 and 79 by means of pivot pins t2 and S3 already described, the pivot pins S2 being provided with retaining collars or nuts fixed thereto in position to' engage thev back of the wheel 78, and the pins 83, having colla rs of the same constructionnot shown-lixed to the back end thereof and adapted to engage the back face of the wheel in like manner. The shaft 80 is provided at its upper forward end with a retaining collar fixed thereto and adapted to engage the bearing Sil, so as to hold the shaft in place in its bearing; and the shaft 81 is provided at its rear lower end with a similar retaining collar 09 fixed thereto and adapted to engage the bearing 85 so as to hold said shaftin operative position in its bearing. (See Figs. 1 and Q.)

The driving Vmechanisn for operatively connecting and driving the upper and lower sets of pivoted beater-bars and their rotators or beater-bar supporting wheels, is constructed as follows: illounted upon and in lifted relation to the lower beater-bar supporting wheel or rotator 56 is a toothed bevel gear or gear ring member which is thus operatively connected in fixed relation to the shaft 5S, already described, said shaft being rotatively mounted in a suitable bearing 101 in the main frame. (See Figs. 1 and lllounted upon and in fixed relation to the upper beater-bar supporting wheel To, and thereby operatively connected with the shaft S0, and in toothed engagement with the beveled toothed gear l00, is a toothed bevel. gear ring or wheel 102, which of .identical construction and dimensions with said gear member 100. Said gears are therefore adapted to have the same speed of rotation. A toothed bevel gear member 10? is mounted in lined concentric relation to the lower beater-bar supporting wheel already described, and is thus operatively connected with and in fixed relation to the shaft 5T already described, said shaft being rot-atively mounted in a suitable inclined bearing 10a in lthe main frame and directly beneath and in the same perpendicular plane with the shaft 81 already described. (See Figs. 1, 2, 8 and Mounted upon or in lined relation to the upper beater-bar supporting wheel 79 already described, and in` lined concentric relation to the shaft 81 is a toothed bevel gear wheel or member which is in 4tootheil engagement with the bevel gear wheel 103. Said beveled gear wheels 103 and 105 are of the same construction and dimensions, and are therefore adapted to have the same speed of rotation, their speed of rotation being the same as that of the wheels 100 and 102 already described. (See Figs. 1, 3 and l.)

The shaft 58 and its beater-bar supporting wheel 50 are opera-'tively connected with the niain driving shaft 1l0, already described, by means of a shaft 10G rotatively mounted in a bearing 107 in the main frame, a toothed bevel gear wheel 105:. lined to the shaft and in toothed engagement with a similar bevel gear wheel 109 :fixed to the shaft 106. a toothed bevel gear wheel 1.10 h xed to the pposite end ol the shaft 10G, and in toothed en:` rement with a toothed bevel gear wheel 11i 'hren is hired to the main driving shaft L10. (See Figs. l, il and The shaft 5T and its beater-bar supporting wheel 55 and gear 10i-l are operatively connected with the main driving shaft 10, or source of power, by means of a shaft 112 which is rotatively mounted in a bearing 1liin the main frame, a toothed bevel gear wheel lil lined to the end of the shaft 5T and zulapted .to hold said shaft against cndwise movement in its bearing, wear wheel 'll-Ti being in toothed engagement Yith a toothed bevel. gear wheel 115 fixed to one end of the gear shaft 112, a toothed bevel gear wheel lill fixed to the opposite end of the slr ft 112, and a toothed bevel gear wheel 11i' fixed to the main driving shaft al() and in toothed engagement with the gear 116.

lll)

The pivoted beater bars located above the level of the top fiber-engaging edge of the lower break bar are thus adapted to be rotatedor driven in a circuit which is oblique to the longitudinal centers of said beater' bars, and are caused to move downward past the fiber engaging upper edge of said lower break-bar in such a manner'as to engage the upper side of the stalks or layer of hemp or fibrous material to be operated upon, so as to breakthe shives or hurds and loosen them from the fibers, and so as to have a scutchinw movement in a direction longitudinally of the stalks, such scutcliing movement being an uninterrupted continuation of the movement by means of which the breaking was effected, but in a direction away from the fiber engaging edge of the lower breakbar and with the upper pivoted beater bars in such relation to the lower beaternars as to come between the latter in successive order, and in such a manner that the upper and lower beater bars are caused to pass longitudinally along and in scutehing engagement with opposite or top and bottom sides of the fibrous material simultaneously while the stalks are being fed endwise between and transversely with respect to the upper and lower break-bars and between the upper and lower sets of pivoted beater-bars. By setting the beater-bar supporting wheels and their supporting shafts at the proper oblique angie with respect to the longitudinal centers of the beater-bars and with respect to the break bars, the length and extent of the scutching movement of the rotative beaterbars may be caused to be in just the right proportion to the speed and force of the striking movement, so that the fibrous material will be properly scutolied and cleaned without unnecessary breaking or injury of the fibers.

fn order to provide simple and efficient means for removing such shives or hurds from the fibers as may remain in the material passing from between the pivoted beater-bars, l' provide a rotary beater mechanism which is located rearward with respect to the pivoted beater-bars already described, and which comprises in its construction a drum or frame which is by preference of cylindrical form consisting of a pair of opposite end rings or drum heads 11S, 118 fixed to a shaft 119 which is journaled at its opposite extremities in suitable bearings 120, 120 in the main frame, said shaft being operatively connected with the main driving shaft 4:0, already described, by means of a sprocket wheel 121 fixed to the main driving shaft, a similar toothed sprocket wheel 122 fixed to the shaft 119, and a sprocket chain 123 mounted. upon and forming a connection between said. sprocket wheels. The end rings or drum head members 118 of the drum or cylindrical frameron the shaft 119 are rigidly connected by means of suitable longitudinal peripheral connecting members or ribs 124, the opposite ends of which are rigidly .mounted in said rings or heads and adapted to form a strong, comparatively light, and rigid frame. These ribs may be in the form of peripheral rods having their opposite ends inserted into and riveted or votherwise firmly connected with the rings.

A multiplicity of peripheral Hail-like circumferentially disposed beater blades or arms 125 are pivotally mounted in staggered relation to each other upon the periphery of the drinn 126, with which they are pivotally connected `by means of a plurality of longitudinal peripheral rock-shafts 12T, the opposite ends of which are rotatively mounted in suitable bearings in the end rings or drum head members 11S.

A plurality of these circumferential flaillike blades are fixed to each of these rock shafts 12T so as to rock or swing outward and inward as the shafts are rocked or partially rotated upon their axes during the rotation of the drum upon its axis, which is parallel with the axes of the rock shafts each of which thus forms a rocking axle for its set or series of Hail-like blades or arms 125. The leading ends of the blades 125 being thus pivotally connected with the drum, and the blades being so arranged that each extends rearward with respect to the direction of movement of the periphery of the drum and vof the blades, it is plain that the action of centrifugal force will tend to cause the free rearward ends of the blades to swing outward circumferentially, as the drum with its peripheral blades orarms, is rotated, the normal direction of rotation being such that the upper half of the drum or frame moves rearward and carries the fiail-like arms therewith. ln order to provide means for positively rocking the flail-like blades and the rock shafts with which thev are connected, in such a manner as to cause the blades, during their upward and rearward movement, to strike and pass upward and rearward in scutching engagement with and between the fibers in the layers of fibrous material passing from the rotative longitudinal beater-bars already described, so as to separate the fibers and remove the shives or hurds therefrom, each of the rock-shafts 12T is provided with one or more crank arms 128 fixed thereto. I prefer to employ one crank arm at each end of each rock shaft, each crank arm having a crank pin 129 at its outer extremity in position to extend into and in operative engagement with an adjacent cam 130, having a continuous cam groove 131 which is in eccentric relation to the axis of the drum, the circumferential walls of said cam groove being of such form as to operatively engage the crank pins, which may be provided with anti-friction sleeves or rollers 132 encircling the crank pins and rotatively supported between and in engagement with the walls of the cam slot, so that the pivoted blades supported by the rock shafts will move outward circumferentially and upward during the upward and rearward movement of the rock shafts with which they are connected, and inward imn'iediately preceding the beginning of such upward and outward movement of the bl adcs on their axes formed by the rock shafts with which they are connected.

Although more or less satisfactory results may be accomplished with a machine having but one cam, and one set of crank arms to be operated by means of such cam, T prefer to employ two fixed cams, one at each end of the drum, and each in position to operatively engage and operate an adjacent crank arm secured to the corresponding ends of the rock shafts. The fiail-like blades or flail arms are so disposed that those on any given rock shaft are in staggered relation to those on the next adjacent rock shafts, throughout the entire circumference of the drum or rotary flail-arm supporting frame.

Mounted in position to extend over and rearward with respect to the drum and the Hail-arms thereon, is a series of stationary curved ribs 133, each of which partially encircles the drum or rotative flail-arm supporting frame in such a position that the pivoted flail-arms 125 will extend across the space between said ribs and the periphery of the drum in position to pass between the ribs during the movement of the flail-arms rearward upon the rearwardly moving upper half of the drum. There is a suiiicient number of these curved stationary ribs so that each of the flail-arms is enabled to pass between a pair of such ribs while in engagement with and in position to pass between and longitudinally of the fibers passing over the Iiail mechanism and between the pe riphery of the flail-arm supporting frame or drum and said ribs.

An endless conveyer belt 134, which is provided with a multiplicity of fiber-engaging bosses or studs 135 thereon, is arranged horizontally at the rear or discharge side of the rotary iiail-arm mechanism, in position to receive and carry away the fibrous material cleaned by the mechanism above described. This conveyer belt may be supported by means of ordinary cylindrical rollers 135', only one of which is shown. (See Fig. 3.) The belt-supporting roller 135 shown in Fig. 3, is supported upon a shaft 136 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the frame. A feed roller 137 is rotatively mounted over and in engagement with the top side of the feed belt and in parallel relation to the roller 135', and supported by means of an idler shaft 138 the opposite ends of 'which are journaled in suitable bearings 139 in the machine frame. A concave scutching shield or scutching concave 140 is provided and mounted in position to extend downward and forward in front of the forward extremity of the carrier apron 134, being supported in operative position by means of suitable side brackets 141. This scutching concave has its forward concave surface in position to support the last extremities of the fibers to pass into position to be carried across said scutching concave and onto the carrier belt 134, in such a manner that the fiail-arms will strike and clean the fibers while they are held by the apron 134 and roller 137 and caused to pass over and across said scutching concave in position to be engaged and scutched and cleaned by the flail arms as they pass in close proximity to the scutching concave.

A lower main conveyer belt or apron 142 is mounted in position to extend beneath the fiber-treating mechanism above described, and from a point directly below the breakbars to and beyond the rear extremity of the machine, said belt being mounted at its for ward extremity upon a driving roller 143 fixed to a supporting shaft 144. A helical conveyer 145, is mounted in a discharge chute 146 which is located at the rear extremities of the parallel longitudinally extending curved ribs 133 in position to extend transversely across the machine and receive the hurds or shives and tow and waste material thrown out between said ribs by the action of the Hail-arms. This conveyer may be of any desired ordinary or suitable form, but when constructed as shown in the drawings, consists of a rod bent into the helical form of a corkscrew having an end axle portion 14T which may be made in one integral piece with the helical part of the conveyer, and journaled in a suitable bearing 148 in the machine frame. This conveyer is adapted to rotate in a direction necessary to discharge material from the end of the chute opposite to that at which the axle is located, and is operatively connected with the shaft 119, already described, by means of a sprocketl wheel 149 on the axle 147, a sprocket wheel 150 fixed to the shaft 119, and a sprocket chain 151 mounted upon and connecting said sprocket wheels. The driving shaft 136, for driving the carrier belt 134 is operatively connected with the axle 147 of the carrier 145, by means of a sprocket wheel 152 on the shaft 136, a sprocket wheel 153 on the axle 147 and a sprocket chain 154 mounted upon and connecting said sprockets. The ribs 133 and chute 146 are covered and inclosed by means of a sheet metal casing 155, the rear extremity of which is connected with the chute, and the forward extremity of which extends to or forward beyond the forward extremities of said ribs, and is supported by a transverse frame-member 156 which also serves to support the forward ends of the series of ribs 133, and to brace and strengthen the machine frame.

An upper intermediate feed roller` 157 and a lower intermediate feed roller 158 may be interposed between the rotative beater-bar mechanism comprising upper beater-bars l7 7 and lower beater bars 54, and the rotative drum and flail-arm' mechanism, said intermediate feed rollers being suitable for receiving the fibrous material passing from said rotative beater-bar mechanism to said drum and flail-arm mechanism, to prevent the fibrous material from being released too soon or before being caught and properly held and fed rearward by the rear carrier apron 134 and roller 137. r1`he bottom roller 158 is fixed to a shaft 159 which is journaled in suitable bearings 160 in the machine frame; and the upper roller 157 is fixed to a shaft 161 journaled at its opposite ends in sliding` bearing blocks 162 which are mounted in slidable engagement with and in position to move upward and downward between upright ways 163, on opposite sides of the machine frame. Compression springs 164 in engagement with the upper sides of said bearing blocks, and held at the desired tension by means of tension screws 165 in threaded engagement with screw-supporting and retaining plates 166 serve to yieldingly hold the bearing blocks in position and permit the upward movement of the upper roller 157 toward and from the lower roller 158 as the condition of the fibrous material may require. 1n practice 1 find it desirable to have the last mentioned rollers sufficiently loosely in engagement with the fibrous material to prevent the material from being subjected to strains such as will injure or break the fibers to any avoidable extent during the operation of cleaning the same. The rollers 157 and 158 are operatively connected so as to rotate in unison, by means of spur gear wheels 167 and 168, the spur gear 167 being fixed to the shaft 159 of the lower roller, and the spur gear 168 being fixed to the shaft 161 of the upper roller, and in toothed engagement with the gear 167.

rlie shai'*J 159 of the roller 158 is operatirely connected with the shaft 119, so as to be driven by the latter, by means of a sprocket wheel 169 fixed to the shaft 159, a sprocket wheel 170 fixed to the shaft 119, and a sprocket chain 171 mounted upon and connecting said sprockets. The shaft 144 of the roller 143 which supports the forward extremity of the discharge conveyer 142, is operatively connected with the main driving shaft 40, by means of a sprocket wheel 172 fixed to the shaft 144, a sprocket wheel 173 fixed to the shaft 40, and a sprocket chain 174 mounted upon and connecting said sprocket wheels.

By providing each of the pivoted flail-like arms 125 with lateral ribs or serrations 175 on each side of each of said arms and in position to engage the fibrous material through which the said flail arms are caused to pass, shives or hurds which have been broken and loosened or partially loosened from the fibers will be dislodged from engagement with the fibers and thrown out from between them and between the spaced curved or concave scutching ribs 133 and into the chute 146 to be carried away by the screw conveyer 145, or other suitable discharging device. The ribs 133 are so constructed and spaced apart as to extend partly around the drum or rotative beater-arm-supporting frame adjacent to the periphery of the latter and in position to prevent the fibrous material operated upon from passing out between said ribs, but to permit the shives or hurds and some tow or short fibers and waste material to pa'ss out between the ribs and into the discharge chute 146. The stalks of' fibrous material, as they are fed into position to pass between the beater-bar mechanism and stationary break-bar mechanism, are broken in such a manner that the fibrous material is scutched and carried by the action of the flail-like arms 125 above the rotative supporting frame upon which said fiail-like arms are mounted, the fibrous material being held back by the rolls 156, 157. rlhe flail-like arms thus have a beating and scutching action or function against which the fibrous material is held by the action of said rolls. The end portions of the stalks which are last to be broken are released by the rolls 156, 157 while the forward extremities of the fibrous material are held by the apron 134 and roll 137. These end portions thus lreleased by the rolls 156, 157 will pass over the rotative supporting frame and flail-like arms without being positively and completely operated upon and scutched between the arms and top grating, and will be carried down and operated upon against the concave 140, or between the flaillike arms and said concave. The fibers passing along between the ribs 133 and the flaillike beater arms 125, however, are fieXed by the latter and partially scutched, and are caused to move rearward in contact with the ribs 133 and between said ribs and in contact with .the flail-like arms, until the fibrous material is caught up by the rear carrier belt 134-, the last released end portions of the stalks are then still further scutched and cleaned between the flail-like beater arms 125 and the scutching concave 140 which is arranged adjacent to the periphery of the iiail-arm-supporting drum or 'frame 126 and extends from end to end of the same. (See Figs. 1 and From the foregoing description it is plain that a machine having only one break-bar used in connection with one co-acting series of pivoted beater-bars, or with two series of co-acting pivoted beater-bars adapted to admit stalks between the adjacent stalkbreaking edge of such stationary break-bar and the pivoted beater-bars in such a manner as to cause the stalks to be broken and scutched by the pivoted beaten-bars, and between such stationary break-bar and the coacting pivoted beater bars, will operate with more or less satisfactory results; but that, by employing two series of pivoted beaterbars adapted to admit stalks therebetween, the stalks are engaged on opposite sides, and may be in simultaneous engagement with one or more pivoted beater bars of both series, he beater-bars coming into contact with the fibrous material on opposite sides of the same alternately and in such a manner as to cause the fibrous material to be broken against the upper and lower break-bars alternately, in case a plurality of stationary break-bars are employed. It is also plain that the rear rotative beater mechanism consisting of the Hail-arms and their rotative supporting frame or drum, and the curved stationary scutching ribs arranged adjacent to and in position to co-act with the flailarms, are adapted to be used in connection with any suitable means for breaking or breaking and scutching the stalks or fibrous material prior to subjecting the material to the action of said last mentioned beater mechanism; but that very desirable results and advantages accompany the use of pivoted or movable beater arms arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and adapted to extend transversely with respect to the path of movement of the fibrous material to be operated upon in combination with rotative beater mechanism comprising a series of Hail-like pivoted beater-arms pivotally connected with the periphery of a rotated supporting frame or drum and having a movement in a direction parallel with or in the same direction with the path of movement of the fibrous material to be operated upon, or at an angle to the longitudinal centers of the parallel pivoted noninvertible beater-bars.

I claim:

1. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of beater-bar mechanism comprising a revolving beater-bar member adapted to be connected with a rotative support, a rotative support for said revolving beater-bar mechanism, means for connecting the revolving beater-bar mechanism in movable relation to said rotative support, a stationary break-bar having a j break-bar and said revolving beaten-bar mechanism, to be broken and scutched by the latter, and means for operating the beater-bar mechanism.

2. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of revolvingbeater-bars each adapted to be pivotally connected with a rotative support, a rotative support for said beater-bars, means for pivotally connecting each of said beater-bars with said rotative support, a stationary break-bar having a liber-engaging stalkbreaking edge facing toward and in parallel relation to the pivoted beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend transversely across and between said stalk breaking edge of the stationary break-bar and said pivoted beater-bars, to be broken and scutchcd by the latter, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bars.

3. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of revolving beater-bars each adapted to be pivotally connected with a rotative support, a rotative support for said beater-bars, means for pivotally connecting each of said beater-bars with said rotative support, a stationary break-bar having a fiber-engaging stall,- breaking edge facing toward the pivoted beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary break-bar and said pivoted beaterbars, to be broken and scutched by the latter, feeding means located on the opposite side of said stationary break-bar from said pivoted beater-bars, for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between the stalk-breaking edge of said stationary break-bar and the pivoted beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism.

4. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of noninvertible revolving beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and each adapted to be pivotally connected with a rotative support, a rotative support for said beater-bars, means for pivotally connecting each of said beater-bars with said rotative support, a stationary break-bar having a fiber-engaging stalkbreaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of and facing toward the pivoted beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking .edge of the stationary break-bar and said pivoted beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, and means for operating the pivoted non-invertible revolving beater-bars.

5. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of noninvertible revolving beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other,

rotative beater-bar supporting members each having pivotal connection with said noninvertible revolving beater-bars, a stationary support for said rotative beater-bar supporting members, a stationary break-bar having a fiber-engaging stalk-breaking edge adj acent to and facing toward the pathof movement of said revolving beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material to be fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary break-bar and said revolving beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, and means for operating said rotative beater-bar supporting members.

6. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of pivoted beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other upon a stationary support, a rotative support upon which said-beater-bars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, a stationary break-bar having a fiber-engaging stalk-breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of and facing toward the pivoted beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of thestationary breakbar and said pivoted beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bars, to break and scutch the stalks between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary break-bar and said pivoted beater-bars.

7. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapt-ed to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, a stationary break-bar having a fiber-engaging stalkbreaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of the pivoted beater bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material to be fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary breakbar and said pivoted beater-bars, to be broken and scutched by the latter, feeding means, for feeding fibrous material into position to extend between the stationary break-bar and the pivoted beater-bars,` to be broken and scutched, and means for operating the feeding mechanism and the pivoted beater-bars.

S. ln a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, for breaking and scutching fibrous material, a stationary break-bar having a fiber-engaging edge adjacent to the path of movement of the pivoted beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material to be fed into po sition to extend between said stalk-engaging edge of the stationary break-bar and said pivoted beater-bars, feeding means located on the opposite side of the stationary break bar from said pivoted beater-bars, for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between the stationary breakbar and said pivoted beater-bars, to be broken and scutched by the latter, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism.

9. In a machine for treating fibrous materia-1, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, for breaking and scutching fibrous material, stalk-sujporting means mounted adjacent to said beater-bars and adapted to support stalks of fibrous material in position to be engaged and broken and scutched between said stalksupporting means and said movable beaterbars, and means for operating the movable beater-bars, to bring the same into breaking and scutching engagement with the stalks of fibrous material to be operated upon.

i0. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, aid mounti g controlling a movement of each beater-ba r in a circuit oblique to itself, for breaking and scutcliing fibrous material, stalk-lC porting means having a stalk-breaking ed adjacent to and facing toward the path movement of said movable beater barl and adapted to support stalks of fibrous material in position to be engaged and broken and scutched between said stalk-supporting means and said movable beater-bars during the movement of the latter in successive order past said stalk-breaking edge of the stalk-supporting means, feeding means 2r feeding stalks of fibrous material over said stalk-supporting means and into position to be engaged and broken by said movable beater-bars successively, and means for opeating the movable beater bars to cause the same to be brought into breaking and scutching engagement with the stalks of fibrous material to be operated upon.

il. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, a stationary break-bar having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of the movable beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material as the same are fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary breakbar and the movable beater-bars, a feeding platform mounted on the opposite side of said stationary break-bar from said movable beater bars, for supporting stalks of fibrous material to be operated upon, feeding means, for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between the stationary break-bar and the movable beater-bars, to be broken by the latt r as they are caused to move past the stalk-breaking edge of the stationary break-bar in successive order, and means for operating the movable beater bars, to cause the same to be successively brought into breaking engagement with the stalks of fibrous material.

l2. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars each having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, a stationary break-bar having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of the movable beater-,bars and acting to engage stalks of fibrous material extending between said stalk-breaking edge and the movable beaterbars, stalk-feeding rolls located on the opposite side of the stationary break-bar from that on which the movable beater-bars are located, stalk-supporting means, for supporting stalks of fibrous material in position to be engaged and operated upon by said feeding rolls, means for operating the feeding rolls, and means for operating the movable beater bars, to cause the same to be successively brought into breaking engagement with the stalks to be operated upon.

13. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, a stationary break-bar having a stalk-engaging breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of the movable beater-bars and acting to engage stalks of fibrous material extending between said stalk-breaking edge and the movable beater bars, feeding means located on the opposite side of the stationary break-bar from said movable beater-bars, for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between the stationary break-bar Leaavvi and said movable beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, a second series of movable beater-bars adapted to engage and permit the passage of fibrous material fed between said first-mentioned and said second-mentioned series of movable beater-bars, and means for operating the movable beaterbar mechanism.

la. ln a machine for treating fibrous material the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support upon which said beaterbars are pivotally mounted, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater-bar in a circuit oblique to itself, a stationary break-bar having a stalk-engaging breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of the movable beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary break-bar and said movable beater-bars, feeding means acting to feed stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationaryn break-bar and said movable beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, a second series of movable beaterbars mounted in position to engage stalks of brous material engaged by the firstmentioned series of movable beater-bars and permitted to pass between said first-mentioned and second-mentioned series of movable beater-bars, and means for operating said Firstmentioned series of movable beater-bars, and said second-mentioned series of movable beater-bars synchronously, to break and scutch the material to be operated upon.

l5. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater bars, rotative beater-bar supporting means pivotally connected with and forming a support for said series of movable beater bars, said mounting controlling a movement of each beater bar in an elliptical circuit, a stationary break-bar having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of said movable beater-bars, and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge and said movable beaterbars, feeding mechanism. adapted to feed stalks into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary breakbar and said movable beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, a second set of movable beater bars mounted adjacent to the firstmentioned set of movable-beater-bars and adapted to co-act with the same, rotative beater-bar-supporting means in supporting engagement with said second series of movable beater-bars, and operatively connected with the rotative supporting mechanism of the first-mentioned set of movable, beaterbars, and means for operating the rotative beater-bar supporting mechanism and the movable, beater-bars supported thereby.

16. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of movable beater-bars adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, a rotative support for said movable beaterbars, means for connecting each of the movable beater-bars in movable relation to said rotative support, a stationary break-bar having a stalk-engaging breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of' said movable beater-bars and adapted to engage stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge and said movable beater-bars, feeding mechanism, for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge of the stationary break-bar and said movable beater-bars, to be broken by the latter, a second series of movable beaterbars mounted in substantially parallel relation to the first-mentioned series of beaterbars to each other, a rotative support for said second series of movable beaterbars, means for connecting each of the beater-bars of said second series of movable beater-bars in movable relation to said lastmentioned rotative support, said first-mentioned series and second-mentioned series of movable beater-bars being adapted to engage opposite sides of a layer of fibrous material passing therebetween, and means for operating the movable beater-bar mechanism, to cause the beater-bars to be brought into breaking and scutching engagement with the material to be operated upon.

17. ln a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a pair of rotative beater-bar-supporting members having their axes in parallel relation to each other, a series of movable beater-bars `each piifotally connected with both of said rotative beaterl;1ai'-siipp.or.tiiig members, a second pair of rotative beaterbar supporting members having their axes in parallel relation to each other, a second series of' movable beater-bars each pivotally7 conner'ted with both of said second-mentioned aair of beater-bar-supporting members, the beater-bars of each series being in'substantially parallel relation to those of the other series and adapted to engage fibrous material fed into position to pass between the two series of beater bars, and means for rotating the rotative beaterbar-supporting members .of both series of beater-bars synchronously, to .cause the beater-bars of both series, respectively, to engage opposite sides of .a layer of fibrous material passing between said beater-bars .to be operated upon thereby.

18. In machine for treating fibrous material., the combination of pair of rotative beater-bar-'supporting members, a series of movable beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and each pivotaily connected with both of said rotative beater barsupporting members, a second pair of' rotative beater-bar-supporting members, a second series of movable beater-bars arranged in parallel relation to each other and each movable into position to extend across the path of movement of the first-mentioned set of movable beaterbars in successive order, means for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to eX- tend between the two series of beater bars, and means for operating the rotative beaterbar-supporting members of both series of beater-bars, to cause the latter to engage opposite sides ofl a layer of stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend therebetween.

19. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a pair of rotative beater-bar supporting wheels, a series of movable beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and each pivotally connected with said wheels, a second pair of beater-bar-supporting wheels rotatively mounted, a series of movable beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and each pivotally connected with said second-mentioned pair of beater-bar-supporting wheels, each oi the beater-bars of each series, respectively, being movable successively into position to eX- tend between and across the path of movement of adjacent beater-bars of the other series, a break-bar having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to the path of movement of' the beater-bars of one of said series of pivoted beater-bars, and adapted to engage stalks to be fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge and the adjacent pivoted beater-bars, and means for operating the rotative beater-bar-supporting wheels, to cause the pivoted beater-bars to engage stalks of fibrous material passing therebetween.

20. ln a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of' a pair of rotative beater-bar-supporting wheels, a series of movable beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation to each other and each pivotally connected with said wheels7 a second pair `of beater-bar-supporting wheels rotatively mounted adjacent to the iirst mentioned pair of supporting wheels, a sec- .ond series of movable beater-bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to eachother and each pivotally connected with the second-mentioned pair of beater-bar-supporting wheels, in position to engage material to be fed into position to extend between the two series of pivoted beater bars, a lstationary break-bar having a stalk-breaking .edge adjacent to the path of movement of the pivoted beater-bars of one of said series,

means for feeding stalks into position to eX- tend between said stalk-breaking edge oi the l stationary break bar and the pivoted beaterbars of the last mentioned series ot' beaterbars, to be broken and scutched by the same, and means for operating the rotative beaterbar-supporting wheels and the pivoted beater-bars supported thereby'.

21. In a machine tor treating fibrous material, the combination of a pair of rotative beater-bar-supporting wheels, a series of movable beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation and each pivotally connected with said bar-supporting wheels, a second pair ot' beater-bar-supporting wheels rotatively mounted adjacent to and operatively connected with the first mentioned pair of bar-supporting wheels, a second series of movable beater-bars arranged in substantially parallel relation and each pivotally connected with said second mentioned pair ot bar-supporting wheels, each of the beater-bars of each series being movable into position to extend across the path ot movement of the beater-bars of the other series alternately in successive order, to engage fibrous material passing between the two series of beater bars, to be operated upon thereby, a pair of stationary breakbars mounted adjacent to the pivoted breakbars, one of said stationary break-bars having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to and adapted to co-act with the pivoted beaterbars of one series, to break and scntch stalks of fibrous material fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge and said pivoted beater-bars, and the other of said stationary break-bars having a stalkbreaking edge adjacent to and adapted to coact with the pivoted beater-bars of the other series, to break and scutch stalks ted into position to be engaged by the last-mentioned beater-bars, means for feeding stalks of fibrous material into position to extend between said break-bars and into position to be engaged by the pivoted beater-bars` and means for operating the beater-bar-supporting wheels and the pivoted beater-bars supported thereby.

22. 1n a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of two pairs of rotative beater-bar-supporting wheels1 a series of movable beater bars tor each pair ot beater-bar-supporting` wheels, each ot said beater-bars having pivotal connection with a corresponding pair of said rotative beaterbar-supporting wheels, means tor operatively connecting the two pairsof beater'- bar-supporting wheels with each other, a pair of stationary break-bars mounted adjacent to the pivoted beater-bars, each ot said stationary break-bars having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to and adapted to co-act with `a corresponding series of said pivoted beater-bars, to engage stalks fed into position to extend between said stalk-breaking edge and such co-acting beater-bars, to be broken and scutched by the latter, feeding means located on the opposite side of said stationary break-bars from the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, adapted to feed stalks endwise transversely between the stationary break-bars in position to pass between the two series of pivoted beater-bars, to be broken and scutched by the latter, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism.

23. 1n a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination oit' two pairs of rotative beater-bar-supporting wheels, a series of movable beater-bars for each pair of beater-bar-supporting wheels, means for pivotally connecting each of said movable beater-bars with its corresponding pair of bar-supporting wheels, means for operatively connecting the two pairs of beaterbar-supporting wheels, a pair of stationary break-bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beater-bars, each of said stationary break-bars having a stalk-breaking edge adapted to engage stalks fed into position to extend transversely with respect to and between such stalk-breaking edge and a co-acting series of pivoted beater-bars, to be broken and scutched bv the latter in such a manner that the stalks are struck and broken against each stationary break-bar alternately, feeding means located on the opposite side of the stationary break-bars from said pivoted beater-bar mechanisn, adapted to feed stalks endwise progressively between and in transverse relation to the break-bars in position to pass between the two series of pivoted beater-bars, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, to cause the beater-bars to strike and break the stalks against each stationary break-bar alternately and in such a. manner that opposite sides ot the fibrous material are struck in alternate order progressively.

2&1-n ln a machine tor treating brous material, the combination of two pairs of rotative beater-bar-supporting wheels, the wheels of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other, a series ot movable beater-bars for each pair ot beaterbar-supporting wheels, means tor pivotally connecting each of said movable beater-bars with its corresponding pair of bar-supporting wheels and in position to extend in oblio-ue relation to the axes ot the latter, a pair of stationary break-bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beater bars and each having a stalk-breaking edge adjacent to the path oi movement ot and facing toward a 0cia-acting series of said pivoted beater-bars, means tor teeding stalks between and 'transverse relation to the break-bars and i` lll) position to pass between the two series of pivoted beater-bars, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, to cause the pivoted beater-bars to engage opposite sidesof the fibrous material alternately.

25. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a plu ality ot pairs of rotary beater-bar-supporting wheels, the wheels of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the axes of the wheels of the other pair, a series of movable beaterbars for each pair of beater-bar-supporting wheels, means for pivotally connecting each of the beater-bars with each of its corresponding pair of bar-supporting wheels and in position to extend in oblique relation to the axes of the said wheels, all of said pivoted beater-bars being substantially par-- allel relation to each other, stationary breakbar mechanism mounted adjacent to the path of movement of a series of said pivoted beater-bars, means for feeding stalks transversely with respect to the stationary break-bar mechanism and in position to pass between two series of the pivoted beater-bars, and means for operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism to cause the pivoted beater-bars to engage opposite sides of the fibrous material to be operated upon.

26. In a machine for treating fibrous material the combination of a plurality of pairs of rotative beater-barsupporting wheels, the wheels of each of said pairs having their axes in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the axes of the other pair of bar-supporting wheels, a series of movable beater bars for each pair of bar-supporting wheels, means for pivotally connecting each of the beater-bars with its corresponding pair of bar-supporting wheels and in position to extend in oblique relation to the aXes of .the same, all o'f said pivoted beater-bars being in substantially parallel relation to each other and each having a movement in a circuit oblique to itseit, pair of stationary break-bars mounted in parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, means for feeding stalks of fibrous material transversely with respect to and between the stationary break-bars and in position to be engaged on opposite sides alternately by oppositely moving pivoted beaterbars, and means Jfor operating the pivoted beater-bar mechanism to cause the pivoted beater-bars to engage opposite sides of the fibrous material to be operated upon.

27. In a machine for treating` fibrous material, the combination of a plurality of pairs of rotative beaterbar supporting wheel members, the wheel-members of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the other pair of said wheel members, a series of movable beater-bars for each pair ot' said bar-supporting wheel members, means for pivotally connecting each of the beater-bars with its corresponding pair of bar-supporting wheel members and in position to ezitend in oblique relation to the axes ot the same, all of said pivoted beater-bars being in substantially parallel relation to each other and each having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, a pair of stationary break-bars mounted in parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beaterbar mechanism, means for feeding stalks of fibrous material transversely with respect to and between the stationary break-bars and in position to be engaged on opposite sides of said stalks alternately by oppositely moving beater-bars, and means for driving the pivoted beater bars against opposite sioes of the iibrous material alternately, whereby the pivoted beater-bars are caused to strike and break the stalks against each stationary break-bar alternately.

28. In a machine 'for treating fibrous niaterial, the combination of a plurality ot' pairs of rotative bar-supporting wheel members, the said wheel members of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other, a series of movable beater-bars for each pair of said bar-supporting wheel members, means for pivotally connecting each oi the beater-bars with its corresponding pair of bar-supporting wheel members and in position to extend in oblique relation to the axes of the same, all of said pivoted beaterbars being in substantially parallel relation, and each having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, a pair of stationary breakbars mounted in parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, means for feeding stalks transversely with respect to and between the stationary break-bars and in position to be engaged on opposite sides of the stalks alternately by oppositely moving beater-bars, and means for operating` the two series oit pivoted beater-bars simultaneously in opposite directions and in synchronous relation to each other in engagement with opposite sides of the stalks in position to break the stalks against each stationary break-bar alternately.

29. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of two pairs of rotative beater-bar supporting wheel members, the said wheel-members of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other' and in oblique relation to the axes of the other pair of said wheel members, toothed gear mechanism comprising a toothed gear member fixed to a rotative beater-bar-supporting wheel member of each of said pairs of wheel members, said toothed gear members being in toothed engagement with each llO other, a series of movable beater bars for each pair of said beater-bar-supporting wheel members, means for feeding stalks of fibrous material between the two series of beater-bars, and means for operating the toothed gear mechanism.

30. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a plurality of pairs of rotative beater-bar-supporting wheel members, the said wheel members of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the axes of the other pair of said wheel members, a series of movable beater bars for each pair of said bar-supporting wheel members, means for pivotally connecting each of said beaterbars with its corresponding pair of bar-supporting-wheel members and in position to extend in oblique relation to the axes of the same, toothed gear mechanism comprising a toothed gear member fixed to a beater-barsupporting wheel member of each of said pair of wheel members, said toothed gea-r members being in toothed engagement with each other, means for feeding stalks of fibrous material between the two series of pivoted beater-bars, and means for operating the gear mechanism and thereby the beater-bar-supporting wheel mechanism and pivoted beater bars.

31. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a plurality of pairs vof rotative beater-bar-supporting wheel members, the said wheel members of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the axes of the other pair of said bar-supporting wheel members, a series of non-invertible revolving beater-bars pivotally connected at their opposite ends to each pair of bar-supporting wheel members, respectivelyweach of said pivoted beater-bar members being in oblique relation to the axis of the rotative beater-bar-supporting wheel members with which it is pivotally connected, a pair of stationary break-bars mounted in parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, means for feeding stalks transversely with respect to and between the stationary break-bars and in position to be engaged on opposite sides by oppositely moving pivoted beater-bars, means for connecting the rotative beater-bar-supporting wheel members in synchronous relation to each other, and means for rotating the beater-bar-supporting wheel members.

32. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a plurality of pairs of rotative disks, the disks of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other and in oblique relation to the axes of the other pair of said disks, a series of substantially parallel non-invertible beater-bars for each pair of said rotativev disks, each of said beater-bars being pivotally connected at its opposite ends with its corresponding pair of rotative disks, and having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, a toothed gear member fixed to each disk, each of said toothed gear members being in toothed engagement with an adj acent corresponding toothed gear member attached toone of the disks of the other pair of rotative disks, driving shaft and gear mechanism operatively connected with said toothed gear mechanism, and means for feeding stalks of fibrous material between the two series of pivoted beater-bars.

33. In a machine for treating fibrousrmaterial, the combination of a plurality of pairs of rotative disks, the disks of each pair having their axes in parallel relation to each other, a series of substantially parallel non-invertible revolving beater bars for each pair of said rotative disks, each of said beater-bars having pivotal connection at its opposite ends with each of its corresponding pair of rotative disks and having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, a toothed gear member fixed to a disk of each pair of said rotative disks and in toothed engagement with an adjacent toothed gear member attached to one of the disks of the other pair of rotative disks, a pair of stationary break-bars mounted in parallel relation to each other adjacent to the pivoted beater-bar mechanism, means for feeding stalks transversely with respect to and between the stationary break-bars and in position to be engaged on opposite sides by beater bars between which the stalks are fed, rotative shafts fixed to the respective disks, and means for rotating said shafts.

34. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of pivoted beater bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other and each having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, rotative bar-supporting means with which the opposite ends of said beater-bars are pivotally connected, a shoe member mounted upon and in longitudinally movable relation to each of said pivoted beater-bar members, means for permitting and yieldingly resisting the movement of the shoes with respect to the pivoted beater-bars on which they are supported, and means for operating the rotative beater-bar-supporting means.

35. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a series of pivoted beater bars mounted in substantially parallel relation to each other, each having a movement in a circuit oblique to itself, rotative beater-bar-supporting means with which the opposite ends of said beater bars are pivotally connected, a shoe member mounted upon and in longitudinally movable relation to each of said beater-bar members, respectively, spring mechanism in operative engagement with each of said shoes and adapt- 

